Choices, choices, so many choices. Also known as photo editing.

Daddy teases Mommy about how much time she spends on the computer, going through her hundreds of photos and editing the best ones. Here is one of 70-some photos Mommy took of me in the snow the other day. This is the original photo, also known as SOOC (Straight Out of Camera) shot. Sometimes an image will be good enough to not have to edit, but more often than not, a "good" photo will have some editing applied to it.

After some skin smoothing and overall sharpening of the image, Mommy will either boost some color and vignette the photo, or apply an "action" in Photoshop Elements. This is the action she chose for this photo: Pioneer Woman Soft Faded.

Just for fun, here is the same photo with some different actions applied. This is "Cashmere" from the Florabella Collection.

70's action from Pioneer Woman.

Florabella Black and White.

Florabella Mink.

Pioneer Woman "Heartland."

Pioneer Woman "Vintage." Wouldn't this one look cool on canvas?

It's really a matter of personal taste, but all of these choices make hobby photography F.U.N!

More Snow!

Hooray! More snow today! We have a total of 4-and-a-half inches. Daddy got out the ruler this morning.

Catch a snowflake!

Now THIS is a snow angel.

Catch another snowflake!

Building a snowman. Putting on the finishing touches, a snowball in his hand.

Not too bad if I do say so myself! Never mind the fact that his mouth has all but fallen off.

Snow angel. Check. Snowman. Check. Now it's time for a SNOWBALL FIGHT!

But watch out for this guy...

Snow!

This is the face of a kid who's had cabin fever and an actual fever and cold the past couple of days. And now....IT'S SNOWING!!! Oh, happy day! Time to get outside!

I've been waiting and waiting to do this!

Snow angel. Well, grass angel.

We'll take what we can get!

My Stocking

When I was born a month early, Daddy bought me this "It's a Girl" stocking. At a tiny 4 lbs, 12 oz, I fit cozily inside my stocking with room to spare!

Daddy thought it would be cool to take a picture each Christmas inside my stocking to compare to the original photo. Here I am at 1 year old.

And 2 yrs old...

3 yrs old...

4 yrs old...

And finally, this year, 5 yrs old! I was allowed to choose a new stocking this year, a Cinderella princess stocking. But I think I'll still take a yearly picture with my special "It's a Girl" stocking!

Presents, Presents, Presents

When we got back from Montana, we opened presents out at Gramma & Poppy's.

Gramma has good taste in clothes.

My American Girl Doll now has a place to sit next to me while I eat dinner and draw.

My doll can also start taking guitar lessons. Seriously, how cute is this little guitar?

My favorite present was this new dress-up outfit made by Aunt Kathi, a fluffy white cat I named "Sparkles." Meeeeeow!!!

I ended the night in this new Husky warm-up suit. I'm a lucky girl!

Catching Up on Christmas

So, Santa did come through with the American Girl Doll on Christmas morning...

Her name is Kira. Isn't that a beautiful name?

I wondered if Santa would put a new toothbrush in my stocking, and he did!

I got Daddy this AWESOME Husky tie. He LOVES it!

Nana and Gramma and Poppy gave me a Rapunzel outfit so I can pretend play in my tower on my top bunk bed.

On Christmas Day we went out to Aunt Colleen and Uncle Ron's for dinner with all the Morgans.

Here are two of Gramma Jean's beautiful granddaughters.

I love these girls!

I have a new little cousin, Baby Haylie.

Aunties in jewel-toned glory.

Mommy with Uncle Eric and Nana.

It was a goodie-fest.

Brookie organized a book exchange on Elfster.com. So much fun!

The girls at Dixie's Bar. Aka: The Gillund family room.

Merry Christmas!